Myths and Legends of the Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes

Page: 51

THE Ancient of Ants was building a house.
She worked hard to finish her house before
the cold weather came.

Now when it was very cold, the Katydid and the
Locust reached her house, asking for shelter. They
said they had no houses.

The Ancient of Ants scolded them. She said,
“After you are grown up, in the warm weather, you
sing all the time, instead of building a house.” She
would not let them come into her house.

Then the Katydid and the Locust were ashamed,
and as the weather was very cold, they died. That is
why katydids and locusts die every winter, while the
ants live in their warm houses. But the katydids and
locusts never do anything in warm weather but sing.

WHEN THE OWL MARRIED

ONCE there was a widow with only one daughter.
She said often, “You should marry and
then there will be a man to go hunting.”

Then one day a man came courting the daughter.
He said, “Will you marry me?”

The girl said, “I can only marry a good worker.
We need a man who is a good hunter and who will
work in the cornfield.”

“I am exactly that sort of a man,” he said. So the
mother said they might marry.

Then the next morning the mother gave the man a
hoe. She said, “Go, hoe the corn. When breakfast
is ready I will call you.” Then she went to call him.
She followed a sound as of someone hoeing on stony
soil. When she reached the place, there was only a
small circle of hoed ground. Over in the thicket someone
said, “Hoo-hoo!”

When the man came back in the evening, the mother
said, “Where have you been all day?”

“I was over in the thicket cutting sticks to mark off
the field,” he said.

“But you did not come to the lodge to eat at all,”
she answered.

“I was too busy,” he said.

Early the next morning he started off with his hoe
over his shoulder.

Then the mother went again to call him, when the
meal was ready. The hoe was lying there, but there
was no sign of work done. And away over in the
thicket, she heard a hu-hu calling, Sau-h! sau-h!
sau-h! hoo-hoo! hoo-hoo! hoo-hoo! chi! chi! chi!
whew!

Now when the man came home that night, the
mother asked,

“What have you been doing all day?”

“Working hard,” he said.

“But you were not there when I came after you.”

“Oh, I went over in the thicket awhile,” said the
man, “to see some of my relatives.”

Then the mother said, “I have lived here a long
while, and no one lives in that swamp but lazy hu-hus.
My daughter wants a husband that can work and not a
hu-hu!” And she drove him from the house.

THE LINNET AND THE EAGLE

Ojibwa

ALL the Birds met in council, each claiming to
fly the highest. Each one claimed to be the
chief. Therefore the council decided that
each bird should fly toward the Sky-land.

Some of the birds flew very swiftly; but they tired
and flew back to earth. Now Eagle went far above all.
When Eagle could fly no farther, Linnet, who had
perched upon Eagle’s back, flew up. Far above Eagle
flew the tiny gray bird.

Now when the Birds held a council again, Eagle
was made chief. Eagle had flown higher than all the
rest, and had carried Linnet on his back.

HOW PARTRIDGE GOT HIS WHISTLE

IN THE old days, Terrapin had a fine whistle and
Partridge had none. Terrapin whistled constantly.
He was always boasting of his fine
whistle.

One day Partridge said, “Let me try your whistle.”

Terrapin said, “No.” He was afraid Partridge
would try some trick.

Partridge said, “Oh, if you are afraid, stay right
here while I use it.”

So Terrapin gave it to him. Partridge strutted
around, whistling constantly.

He said, “How does it sound with me?”

“You do it very well,” said Terrapin, walking by
his side.

“Now how do you like it?” asked Partridge,
running ahead.

“It’s fine,” said Terrapin, trying to keep up with
him. “But don’t run so fast!”

“How do you like it now?” asked Partridge,
[Pg 150]
spreading his wings and flying to a tree top. Terrapin
could only look up at him.

Partridge never gave the whistle back. He has it
even to this day. And Terrapin was so ashamed because
Partridge stole his whistle, and Turkey had
stolen his scalp, that he shuts himself up in his box
whenever anyone comes near him.

HOW KINGFISHER GOT HIS BILL

Cherokee

SOME of the old men say that Kingfisher was
meant in the beginning to be a water bird, but
because he had no web on his feet and not a good
bill, he could not get enough to eat. The animals
knew of this, so they held a council. Afterwards they
made him a bill like a long, sharp awl. This fish gig
he was to use spearing fish. When they fastened it on
to his mouth, he flew first to the top of a tree. Then he
darted down into the water and came up with a fish on
his bill. And ever since, Kingfisher has been the best
fisherman.